Charles Beckett Jr.

Charles Harrison
Beckett, Jr., or "Chuck"

Was 89 years old when he passed away from kidney failure on April 18, 2014 at Prestige Assisted Living in Chico, California.  His sister, Barbara Jean Beckett, who was four years older, and his parents, preceded Chuck in death.  He was born on February 27, 1925 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Katherine Marie Beschorman from Ohio and Charles Harrison Beckett, Sr. from Indiana.

Chuck lived three years in Chico, California.  He previously lived in San Rafael with his second wife, Carroll Edwards Beckett, who passed on in 2013. They were married in 1987 and enjoyed many years of travel around the world, family gatherings, a home at Smith Ranch, and a retreat at Inverness. Chuck especially enjoyed hikes, bird watching, and spotting wildlife in the Point Reyes area, as well as eating the oysters from Bodega Bay.

Chuck married Peggy Laverne Robinson from Berkeley, California in 1948 in New York City.  They moved from New York to California in 1951 and settled in Orinda, California. Peggy and Chuck had three children; Bill, Joye, and Bruce.  Chuck has six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Peggy passed on in 1986.

Chuck's interests led him into mechanical engineering and into the US Marine Corps. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley in 1946 and was a First Lieutenant in the Marine Reserves. He earned the Korean Service Award for active duty during the Korean War.

Chuck designed tow trucks, fire boats, and earth moving equipment for various companies in the Bay Area.  He spent many years working as a sales engineer for Hexel Corporation.  While there, he helped Hexel to secretly build the heat shields for the early space-mission capsules. 

In 1963, Chuck became his own business owner by starting Bayco Industries, which designed and manufactured industrial ovens.  The time was right for his air pollution control equipment and Chuck gained national recognition for his advances in industrial oven technology.  After 20 years of growing Bayco Industries, Chuck sold the company and moved into retirement.

Boy Scouting was a passion to Chuck.  He spent many years as an adult leader in Scouts and was a regular outdoor event participant, a Scout Master, and a Merit Badge Counselor.  Chuck also loved skiing, trout fishing, sailing, and mountain climbing.  Chuck was an avid reader, and in his spare time, he built furniture, tied flies, and edited the home movies he filmed.

Chuck asked that his remains be spread in the ocean off the coast of Marin County.  He wished that memorial contributions be made to:  The Smithsonian Institution, Contribution Receipt Center, PO Box 9016, Pittsfield, MA   01202-9016 (www.si.edu) to help in their mission to: "shape the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world." Arrangements entrusted to the Neptune Society of No CA, Chico Branch.